You're listening to American Shadows, a production of I Heart radio and Grimm and Mild

from Aaron Manky.

In the last surviving photos taken of Pauline Cushman in 1865, she looks quite impressive,

rattling a sword and wearing her civil war military outfit.

She's unquestionably feminine and unquestionably intimidating.

Originally meant to show support for the men and their chosen side, military style dresses

for women became all the rage during and after the war.

Most outfits were merely for show, however, Pauline's was not.

You see, Pauline served as a union spy.

During an average start in life, the war changed everything.

Her real name was Harriet Wood and she was born on June 10th of 1833 in New Orleans to a

moderately wealthy family.

She had one sibling, a brother.

Their father was a successful Spanish merchant and her mother was the daughter of a prominent

soldier in Napoleon's army.

The children were very young when the family moved to Michigan.

Their father started a successful trading post.

At 17, she left home to pursue a career in acting, changing her name to Pauline.

For a year, she lived in New York City trying to break into stage work.

Things didn't work out as planned, though, and Pauline moved back to New Orleans a year

later.

Her hometown is where she found love, marrying musician Charles Dickinson.

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